Convicted sex offender sentenced to 22 years

A repeat sex offender received a 22-year prison sentence Friday despite his claim that he was falsely accused.

"The justice system no longer protects the innocent," Jason L. Ellison, 23, Lawrence, told Judge Robert Fairchild before being sentenced to 272 months in prison for aggravated sexual battery of a female acquaintance.

Ellison claimed the woman made up the story that he forced sexual contact on her to retaliate against him after he was caught "cheating" on the woman's sister.

A jury convicted Ellison, based largely on the woman's testimony, of the charge in November but found him not guilty of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy.

"Twelve members of the community have found that he did in fact do what he claims he didn't do," Assistant District Attorney Angela Wilson said.

Ellison has a prior sex-crime conviction for taking "indecent liberties" with a teenager in 2001- a factor that doubled his sentence under Kansas sentencing guidelines.

"The jury found that you were guilty," Fairchild said. "I cannot overturn that."